Babies are a gift, a blessing, the best thing to ever happen—we know—but it sure would be nice if they found a way to come out without wreaking havoc on their moms’ hormone levels, muscles, and skin. “[Men] don’t understand what you go through as a woman who’s had a baby,” says Dr. Kelly Killeen, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. “You watch every molecule of your body change.” Those changes look different for every woman, and while some embrace them, others turn to a mommy makeover to feel more like their old selves again.
A mommy makeover isn’t a one-size-fits-all postpartum fix; it’s a buffet of procedures you and your doctor can customize, depending on your needs. For that reason, it can be hard to determine the price, though data from RealSelf members puts the average cost at $12,825. We asked six of those women to share which procedures made up their mommy makeover and how the total cost broke down.
$17,830
When: December 2019
Where: McMurray, Pennsylvania
Procedures: tummy tuck, breast augmentation with gel implant, liposuction to flanks
Cost breakdown
• Surgeon’s fee: $11,780
• Operating room: $4,350
• Anesthesia: $1,225
• Medication: $125
• Additional supplies: $350
“It was 100% worth it because I love my new body and I can confidently wear bathing suits and tight clothes again. However, I am unhappy with the residual edema and numbness of my lower belly. I wish more fat was taken with the lipo and the scars were more discreet. I also should have gone with my gut instinct to get a smaller breast implant.” —Danielle, 34
$13,341
When: May 2020
Where: Logan, Ohio
Procedures: tummy tuck (including liposuction of the flanks), breast lift with implants
Cost breakdown
• Surgery (including surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fee, facility fee, two silicone breast implants, two massages, stage 1 and 2 garments. Free stage 3 garment for posting a review on RealSelf): $12,000
• COVID-19 test: $100
• Wheelchair rental: $200
• Medication: $55
• Post-surgery massages: $650
• Additional supplies (including scar gel, tape, gauze, sleepwear and compression items, waist trainer, body roller): $336
“I wish that I would have talked to the doctor more about what I wanted versus what he wanted to do. I felt rushed in my appointment. I wish that my husband would’ve been with me during all my appointments, but with Covid-19, he was not allowed in the room with me. I also should have researched more about after-surgery care—I was taken by surprise on what I was required to do.
“I am most happy with my abdominoplasty, though the scar is not straight or low enough. I’m pleased with my breasts, but they are not exactly what I wanted them to look like. They look more natural than fake, but I wanted the fake look, so I may have another breast augmentation surgery in the future.” —Heather, 34
Related: Considering a Mommy Makeover? Plastic Surgeons Answer Moms’ Top Practical (and Personal) Questions
$16,744
When: July 2020
Where: New Castle, Delaware
Procedures: tummy tuck with muscle repair, liposuction of flanks, breast augmentation with implant replacement
Cost breakdown
“The total cost—including anesthesia, operating cost at the surgeon’s outpatient center, Exparel, surgical binder, BioOil, 800cc Mentor Smooth Round Ultra High Profile silicone implants, and procedures—was $16,744. The abdominoplasty was about $11,000 of that. I received a discount for having more than one procedure done at the same time, and I also received a 5% cash pay discount on the operating costs.”
“I had major body damage, not from kids but from a past kidney disease. I had postinfectious glomerulonephritis, with resultant nephrotic syndrome and severe pitting edema in the lower half of my body. Between the edema and the prednisone [corticosteroid]) medication, I developed very deep, large [stretch marks] all over my legs and belly. I was extremely self-conscious of this and embarrassed to wear a bikini. In addition, I suffered from diastasis recti. I suspect that I may have always had a mild form of this, as I had a potbelly in my 20s, prior to having children, but it seemed to get a lot worse after having three children, particularly following the one Cesarean section I had, with my first child.
“In addition, my breasts needed revision. The implants I’d gotten 15 years prior no longer had the same proportions as they’d had previously, due to my weight gain, with all the weight concentrated in my midsection and legs. My breasts were drooping and had decreased almost a cup size after weaning my third child. After surgery, I now have a belly that is smooth [and] tight and does not protrude outward significantly. All the loose skin and most of the striae have been removed. My belly button looks round and tight again—it no longer looks sad and deflated. My breasts are much fuller and rounder in shape than they were previously.
“I am most happy with the fullness of my breasts and the overall shape of my belly now. I wish I didn’t have the big hip-to-hip scar that comes with a full abdominoplasty, but it is what it is, and I realize it will fade over time. I went with the largest size silicone implants available—800cc—and they still don’t seem super big to me, although they are almost twice the volume of my previous implants and my breasts are now a full two cup sizes bigger than before. If larger implants become available, I might possibly consider upgrading in a few years.” —Jean, 38
$18,370
When: June 2020
Where: Hanford, California
Procedures: tummy tuck; liposuction to upper and lower abdomen, sides, and waist; breast lift with silicone implants
Cost breakdown
• Total surgery cost: $18,325
• Medication: $20
• Lab work: $25
“My mommy makeover was the best decision that I’ve ever made. I have so much confidence, and it has improved my mental health to the point where I’m no longer obsessing over what I look like. The only difficulty I had was the length of recovery—it took a really long time to feel somewhat ‘normal’ again—but I wouldn’t change anything.” —Amanda, 34
Related: 10 Doctors Give Their Best Mommy Makeover Advice, in 10 Words or Less
$7,380
When: March 2020
Where: Fort Myers, Florida
Procedures: tummy tuck, liposuction of the flanks, breast augmentation
Cost breakdown
• Surgery (includes surgeon’s fee, operating room, anesthesia, and all pre- and post-op appointments): $7,000
• Medication: $60
• 2 fajas and ab board: $270
• Additional supplies: $50
“I am about six and a half months post-op now, and I’d say it was definitely worth it. I have gained so much confidence and feel so beautiful again. However, if you asked me when I was two to three months post op, it was such a roller coaster of emotions. No one tells you how to prepare for what your mind will go through and how you will be emotionally challenged every day. There were days I’d just cry when I looked at myself, because I expected certain results right away and I didn’t get that. Some days, I couldn’t even look at myself and wished I never had the surgery. It is definitely a process—a hard one on your body and a tough one mentally.
“Now I am mostly happy with my overall appearance. It has motivated me to begin working out again, to maintain my 24-inch waist and get back into shape. The only thing I am unhappy with is my tummy tuck scar. I would have quit smoking cigarettes sooner if I’d had the chance to. From the time I first contacted my coordinator to my surgery date was only 20 days, and I quit smoking in 10 days. At my pre-op appointment, my doctor said my chances of developing necrosis were significantly higher since I had just quit smoking, and he asked if I would reschedule. I did not, and I developed necrosis on my tummy tuck incision. It was not as bad as [it could have been], but my scar is thicker in the center, where the necrosis was the worst. It is fading nicely on the sides, but I think the center part of the scar will always be visible.” —Anne, 37
$28,148
When: August 2020
Where: Honolulu
Procedures: tummy tuck, with correction of rectus diastasis; breast augmentation; liposuction of back and hips; 90 days post-op liposuction of the abdominal fat and residual fat and scar tissue around the waist and back
Cost breakdown
• Abdominoplasty ($1,000 package discount): $13,000
• Breast augmentation ($3,000 discount): $7,500
• Liposuction ($5,000 discount): $3,000
• Overnight nurse: $600
• Natrelle Silicone Soft Touch implants ($250 off Allergan special): $250
• Product fee for DMSO 70%: $150
• Anesthesia: $3,000
• Medication: $48
• 8 ultrasound treatments, to break up the scar tissue from liposuction: ~$600
“My mommy makeover was worth all the money, time, and discomfort, because my results are beyond what I had expected. In addition, not only is Dr. S. Larry Schlesinger a highly skilled surgeon, he is the most compassionate doctor that provides excellent post-op care—this is priceless!” —Mahealani, 34
